Selective combining method and apparatus in a mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for selectively combining broadcast data packets from a plurality of cells in a user equipment (UE). A selective combiner stores a received broadcast data packet in a buffer if a sequence number of the broadcast data packet received from the plurality of cells does not fall within a reception window, and stores the received broadcast data packet in the buffer if a sequence number of the received broadcast data packet falls within the reception window but has not been stored in the buffer. The selective combiner updates the reception window if a sequence number of the received broadcast data packet does not fall within the reception window, and discards the received broadcast data packet if a sequence number of the received broadcast data packet falls within the reception window but has been stored in the buffer.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an applicationentitled “Selective Combining Method in a Mobile Communication System”filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 31, 2003 andassigned Serial No. 2003-101768, an application entitled “SelectiveCombining Method in a Mobile Communication System” filed in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Jan. 30, 2004 and assigned Serial No.2004-6350, an application entitled “Selective Combining Method in aMobile Communication System” filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice on Feb. 11, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-9134, and anapplication entitled “Selective Combining Method in a MobileCommunication System” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Officeon Apr. 13, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-25535, the contents of allof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a data combining method in amobile communication system, and in particular, to a method forselectively combining the same broadcast data received through aplurality of paths.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile communicationsystem provides a voice service and a data service in which a largevolume of data such as packet data and circuit data is transmitted. Itis expected that in the near future, the CDMA mobile communicationsystem will support multimedia broadcast/communication in which amultimedia service can be transmitted.

In a common mobile communication system, because radio transmissionresources are limited, it is not efficient to transmit high-rate data ona point-to-point basis. For example, in order to transmit a 64-Kbpsvideo streaming service to one user equipment (UE), radio resourcesnecessary for transmitting 64-Kbps data should be allocated to the UE.However, if the number of UEs increases to n, the required amount ofradio resource to be allocated also increases n times.

Alternatively, when a plurality of UEs desire to receive the sameservice, the service can be provided using the same radio resourceregardless of the number of UEs located in the same cell and desire toreceive the same service. This makes it possible to efficiently use theradio resource.

In order to support the multimedia broadcast/communication, research isbeing conducted on a broadcast service provided from several multimediadata sources to a plurality of UEs. A typical example of the broadcastservice is Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) proposed in3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

The MBMS service supports transmission of multimedia data, such asreal-time image and voice, still image, text, etc., and cansimultaneously provide voice data and image data with application ofmultimedia transmission. Therefore, the MBMS service requires a largeamount of transmission resources. The MBMS service can be provided overa broadcast channel because of the possibility that a plurality of UEswill request the same MBMS service.

Generally, the MBMS service can be divided into two service types: aPoint-to-Point (PtP) service and a Point-to-Multipoint (PtM) service. Inthe PtP service where a desired MBMS service is independently providedto each individual UE, dedicated channels should be allocated to theUEs. In the PtM service where an MBMS service is provided in common to agroup of UEs requesting the same MBMS service, a common channel shouldbe allocated to the UEs requesting the same MBMS service.

The MBMS service described above refers to the PtM service forefficiently transmitting the same data to a plurality of UEs in anasynchronous Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobilecommunication system. The MBMS service is especially advantageous formultimedia transmission that requires a large amount of radiotransmission resource. Because the MBMS service can be used for ahigh-speed multimedia service as well as for various other services, itis expected that applications suitable for the MBMS service willcontinuously increase in number in the future.

Even though the same MBMS service is provided to a plurality of UEsusing a common channel in this way, the limitation on radio resourceremains. According to simulations, in order to maintain a predeterminedblock error rate (BER) on 80 to 90% of a cell while transmitting 64-Kbpsdata over a common channel, 30% or more of available transmission powerof the cell should be used.

The simulation result implies that the following problems should betaken into consideration.

First, in order to provide an MBMS service whose quality can besatisfied by all UEs located in the same cell, most of availabletransmission power of the cell should be used for one service.

Second, when available transmission power of the cell is limited, thereis high possibility that UEs located in the boundary of the cell willexperience quality degradation.

In order to solve these problems, there has been proposed a method inwhich a UE located in the boundary of the cell receives data from aplurality of cells when a particular service is simultaneouslytransmitted from several neighbor cells. However, only a concept thereofhas been discussed, and no detailed method for realizing the concept hasbeen presented yet.

Accordingly, there have been many demands for a detailed method forreceiving data transmitted from several cells and appropriately usingthe data by enabling an appropriate exchange of control signals betweena Node B and a UE, and mounting a new device in the UE when a particularservice is simultaneously transmitted from several neighbor cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aselective combining method for enabling a UE located in a cell boundaryto smoothly receive a broadcast service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a selectivecombining method for maximizing efficient use of downlink transmissionresources.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide amethod for selectively combining only error-free data in the same datareceived through a plurality of paths.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor performing selective combining using a sequence number assigned todata.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor performing selective combining using a sequence number of a radiolink control (RLC) layer.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor identifying data received through different paths with a sequencenumber of an RLC layer and performing selective combining based on theidentification result.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor transmitting a unique sequence number assigning device indicator toeach cell from a network in which there are a plurality of sequencenumber assigning devices.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor determining by a UE whether to perform selective combining based ona sequence number assigning device indicator transmitted from a network.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor performing selective combining on data from a serving cell to atarget cell when a sequence number assigning device indicator from thetarget cell is identical to a sequence number assigning device indicatorfrom the serving cell.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor performing no selective combining on data from a serving cell to atarget cell when a sequence number assigning device indicator from thetarget cell is not identical to a sequence number assigning deviceindicator from the serving cell.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for selectively combining broadcast data packets from aplurality of cells in a user equipment (UE). The method includes thesteps of receiving a broadcast data packet from the plurality of cells;if a sequence number of the received broadcast data packet does not fallwithin a reception window, storing the broadcast data packet in a bufferand updating the reception window based on the sequence number; if thesequence number of the received broadcast data packet falls within thereception window, determining if a broadcast data packet having thesequence number has been stored in the buffer; discarding the broadcastdata packet, if the broadcast data packet has been stored in the buffer;and storing the broadcast data packet in the buffer, if the broadcastdata packet has not been stored in the buffer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for selectively combining broadcast data packets from aplurality of cells in a user equipment (UE). The apparatus includes abuffer; and a selective combiner for storing a received broadcast datapacket in the buffer if a sequence number of the broadcast data packetreceived from the plurality of cells does not fall within a receptionwindow, and storing the received broadcast data packet in the buffer ifa sequence number of the received broadcast data packet falls within thereception window but has not been stored in the buffer. The selectivecombiner updates the reception window if a sequence number of thereceived broadcast data packet does not fall within the receptionwindow, and discards the received broadcast data packet if a sequencenumber of the received broadcast data packet falls within the receptionwindow but has been stored in the buffer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for selectively-combining, by a user equipment (UE), broadcastdata packets from a serving cell and at least one target cell in amobile communication system including the UE, the serving cell forproviding a particular broadcast service through a primary link set upby the UE, the target cell for providing the particular broadcastservice through a secondary link set up by the UE, and a radio networkcontroller (RNC) for providing broadcast data packets for the particularbroadcast service to the serving cell and the target cell. The methodincludes the steps of receiving a broadcast data packet from the servingcell and the target cell; determining if the same broadcast data packetas the received broadcast data packet has already been received;discarding the received broadcast data packet, if the received broadcastdata packet is identical to the previously received broadcast datapacket; storing the received broadcast data packet in a buffer, if thereceived broadcast data packet is not identical to the previouslyreceived broadcast data packet; reordering broadcast data packets storedin the buffer in the order of sequence number; and delivering, to anupper layer, a broadcast data packet having a sequence number precedinga reception-failed sequence number, among the reordered broadcast datapackets; wherein the sequence number is an indicator for distinguishingthe broadcast data packet, and the same sequence number is assigned tothe same broadcast data packet in the serving cell and the target cell.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for selectively-combining, by a user equipment (UE),broadcast data packets from a serving cell and at least one target cellin a mobile communication system including the UE, the serving cell forproviding a particular broadcast service through a primary link set upby the UE, the target cell for providing the particular broadcastservice through a secondary link set up by the UE, and a radio networkcontroller (RNC) for providing broadcast data packets for the particularbroadcast service to the serving cell and the target cell. The apparatusincludes a duplication checker for determining if the same broadcastdata packet as a broadcast data packet received from the serving celland the target cell has already been received, discarding the receivedbroadcast data packet if the received broadcast data packet is identicalto a previously received broadcast data packet, and storing the receivedbroadcast data packet in a reordering buffer if the received broadcastdata packet is not identical to a previously received broadcast datapacket; and the reordering buffer for reordering the broadcast datapackets stored therein in the order of sequence number, and delivering,to an upper layer, a broadcast data packet having a sequence numberpreceding a reception-failed sequence number, among the reorderedbroadcast data packets; wherein the sequence number is an indicator fordistinguishing the broadcast data packet, and the same sequence numberis assigned to the same broadcast data packet in the serving cell andthe target cell.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for selectively combining broadcast data packets from aplurality of cells in a user equipment (UE). The method includes thesteps of allocating a reception window based on a sequence number of abroadcast data packet first received from the plurality of cells, and apredetermined reception window size; determining if a sequence number ofa broadcast data packet received from the plurality of cells fallswithin the reception window; determining if a broadcast data packethaving the same sequence number as the sequence number has already beenstored in a buffer, if the sequence number falls within the receptionwindow; discarding the received broadcast data packet, if a broadcastdata packet having the same sequence number as the sequence number hasalready been stored in the buffer; storing the received broadcast datapacket in the buffer, if a broadcast data packet having the samesequence number as the sequence number has not been stored in thebuffer; storing the received broadcast data packet in the buffer, if thesequence number does not fall within the reception window; updating thereception window based on the sequence number and the predeterminedreception window size; and delivering, to an upper layer, a broadcastdata packet having a sequence number which is outside a range of theupdated reception window, among the broadcast data packets stored in thebuffer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network(UTRAN) in a UMTS mobile communication system to which an embodiment ofthe present invention is to be applied;

FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram illustrating a procedure for providingselective combining assistance data according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing selectivecombining by a UE according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a UE according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the selective combinerillustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network in which onlyone sequence number assigning device is formed, to which a secondembodiment of the present invention is to be applied;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network including aplurality of sequence number assigning devices, to which the secondembodiment of the present invention is to be applied;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a UE in the networkhaving the structure illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a UE according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an RLC entity in a UE accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the SCR-window illustrated in FIG. 10;and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a selective combineraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail herein below with reference to the annexed drawings.In the following description, a detailed description of known functionsand configurations incorporated herein has been omitted for conciseness.Although embodiments of the present invention will be restrictivelyapplied to an MBMS service, they can also be applied to other types ofbroadcast services.

However, before a detailed description of the present invention is made,a definition of the terms frequently used herein will be given below.

Multicast Control Channel (MCCH): This is a channel over which MBMSservice-related information of each cell is transmitted. Information onthe type of an MBMS service provided by each cell and information on aconfiguration of a radio bearer over which the MBMS service is beingprovided, can be transmitted over this channel. In addition, the otherinformation that a UE should have in order to receive an MBMS servicecan be transmitted over the multicast control channel.

Radio Link Control Packet Data Unit (RLC PDU): In a UMTS mobilecommunication system, Layer 2 (L2) is comprised of a radio link control(RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The RLC layerassembles data transmitted by an upper layer in an appropriate size,inserts a header into the data, and transmits the header-inserted datato a lower layer (MAC layer). Further, the RLC layer analyzes a headerof data transmitted by the lower layer (MAC layer), performs anappropriate operation according to the analysis result, and transmitsthe operation result to the upper layer. The data exchanged at that timebetween the RLC layer and the lower layer (MAC layer) is called “RLCPDU.” For simplicity, the RLC PDU will be represented herein by “PDU.”

RLC PDU Sequence Number (RLC PDU SN): This is a sequence number includedin a header of an RLC PDU, and is increased in regular successionaccording to transmission order. The RLC PDU SN is used as informationfor distinguishing an RLC PDU for selective combining proposed in thepresent invention. For simplicity, the RLC PDU SN will be representedherein by “SN.”

Selective Combining (SC) Assistance Data: This is data used togetherwith an RLC SN to distinguish the same broadcast data in broadcast datareceived from a plurality of cells and to perform selective combiningthereon. The present invention proposes an RLC SN version and aselective combining (SC) indicator, as the selective combiningassistance data.

RLC SN Version: This is a value determined by counting how many times anRLC SN is reset by transmission of an RLC PDU, and is used when it isnot possible to determine identity of RLC PDUs received from differentcells with only an RLC SN due to a propagation delay. For simplicity,the RLC SN version will be represented herein by “SN version.”

SC Indicator: This is information indicating whether a specific MBMSservice provided in a particular cell supports selective combining.

Commonly, a broadcast service is characterized in that in most cases,one broadcast service is simultaneously provided in a plurality ofneighbor cells. Particularly, an MBMS service, a typical example of thebroadcast service, also has such a characteristic. Therefore, thepresent invention uses only error-free broadcast data in the broadcastdata for the same broadcast service, which is received from a pluralityof cells, and herein, this operation will be referred to as “selectivecombining.” By using the selective combining, a selective combining gaincan be obtained. For example, assuming that a UE receives broadcast datafor a particular broadcast service from both a cell#1 and a cell#2, ifbroadcast data received from the cell#1 has an error and the samebroadcast data received from the cell#2 has no error, then the UE usesonly the broadcast data received from the cell#2. In this way, the UEcan acquire error-free broadcast data.

For the selective combining, the UE should previously set up radio linksto a plurality of cells, and should be able to distinguish the same datain the broadcast data received through different radio links.Accordingly, the present invention proposes a method of distinguishingthe same broadcast data using selective combining assistance data and anSN.

A. First Embodiment

In order for a UE to distinguish RLC PDUs using SNs of PDUs receivedthrough a plurality of links, a network should satisfy the followingparticulars.

First, PDUs with the same size should be transmitted to the target linksof selective combining. This is possible by setting the same PDU sizefor the links for which selective combining is to be performed.

Second, the same SN should be assigned to the PDUs transmitted to thetarget links of selective combining. That is, if a PDU received througha primary link and a PDU received through a secondary link have the sameSN, it is said that they are the same PDUs. This is automaticallysatisfied if the first condition is satisfied. This is because, for bothPDUs transmitted through the primary link and the secondary link, thesame MBMS data transmitted from a core network is assembled into PDUswith the same size and then the same SN is assigned to the PDUs.

Third, a UE should be able to distinguish PDUs received through targetlinks of selective combining, using an SN. Because the SN has a valuebetween 0 and 127, a difference between SNs of PDUs received at the sametime through a primary link and a secondary link should not be largerthan 128/2=64. If the difference is larger than 64, the UE cannotdetermine the correct order of the PDU received through the secondarylink. For example, if a PDU having an SN ‘a’ is received from theprimary link and a PDU having an SN ‘(a+64)’ is received from thesecondary link at a specific time, the UE cannot determine if the PDUreceived from the secondary link is a PDU that was transmitted 64 PDUsahead of the PDU received from the primary link, or a PDU that wastransmitted 64 PDUs after the PDU received from the primary link.

There are two proposed methods for satisfying the third condition. Inthe first proposed method, a network synchronizes data transmission ofeach link. In the second proposed method, there is no restriction ondata transmission of each link, but assistance data that can be used asindicators of PDUs is separately transmitted to each cell.

Herein, the present invention will be described based on the secondproposed method. However, although the first proposed method is usedinstead of the second proposed method, essential parts of the presentinvention remain unchanged. For example, an operation of detectingduplicately received data and a reordering operation, performed by aselective combiner, remain unchanged.

In order to use the second proposed method, the present invention causeseach cell to periodically broadcast selective combining assistance data,and causes a UE receiving broadcast data from two or more cells toperform selective combining using the selective combining assistancedata and an SN assigned to the broadcast data.

To summarize, a radio network controller (RNC) providing a particularMBMS service announces selective combining assistance data for the MBMSservice to each cell from which the MBMS service is provided. The“selective combining assistance data” refers to data that a UE shoulddetect in order to perform selective combining. For example, theselective combining assistance data can be data (SC indicator)indicating if a particular MBMS service can undergo selective combiningin the cell, or assistance data (SN version) used for identification ofa PDU transmitted from the cell. While receiving an MBMS service from aparticular cell, if a UE discovers a new cell providing its desired MBMSservice in a good radio environment, the UE acquires selective combiningassistance data announced from the new cell. The UE performs selectivecombining on the MBMS data transmitted from the plural cells using theselective combining assistance data.

The selective combining operation, as described above, refers to anoperation of discarding duplicately received PDUs among PDUs receivedthrough the primary link and the secondary link, and transmitting PDUsreordered in the order of their transmission, to an RLC entity. Theselective combining assistance data can also be used for identifyingPDUs received through the primary link and the secondary link in theabove process.

The present invention presents a selective combiner as a device forperforming the selective combining. The selective combiner is preferablylocated between a MAC layer and an RLC layer. The selective combiner isformed as soon as a secondary link is setup, and is not used when thereis only one link among a plurality of links currently set up. Thesecondary link indicates a physical layer/MAC layer that will processMBMS data transmitted from a new cell.

A description will now be made of an operation of performing selectivecombining using an SN version and an SC indicator as selective combiningassistance data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a UMTS TerrestrialRadio Access Network (UTRAN) in a UMTS mobile communication system towhich an embodiment of the present invention is to be applied. In FIG.1, the UTRAN is includes a cell, a Node B, and a radio networkcontroller (RNC). In the UTRAN, a plurality of RNCs can exist, and eachof the RNCs can control a plurality of Node Bs. Each of the Node Bscontrols a plurality of cells. An RNC, Node Bs controlled by the RNC,and a plurality of cells controlled by the Node Bs constitute a radionetwork subsystem (RNS).

FIG. 1 illustrates only one of a plurality of RNSs included in theUTRAN, and it is assumed that each of two Node Bs included in the RNScontrols one cell. Commonly, the cell serves as only a physical layer ofits Node B. Therefore, in the following description, it will be assumedthat the Node B and the cell are identical to each other in terms of themeaning.

Referring to FIG. 1, an RNC 110 assembles MBMS data provided from a corenetwork into a PDU, and provides the PDU to two neighbor cells 112 and114. The RNC 110 periodically transmits selective combining assistancedata for each MBMS service to each of the two neighbor cells 112 and 114over an MCCH.

The selective combining assistance data includes an SN version and an SCindicator. The SN version is assistance data used for distinguishing theorder of a PDU received through a primary link and a PDU receivedthrough a secondary link. An SN of a PDU is primarily used fordistinguishing the order of PDUs received from respective links.However, because the SN has only 7 bits, it may not reflect a possibledifference between the links in terms of a transmission situation.

For example, if a difference between the primary link and the secondarylink in number of PDUs transmitted therethrough is several hundreds, theSN is of no assistance in distinguishing the order of received PDUs. Inorder words, if an x^(th) PDU is transmitted through the primary linkwhile an (x+500)^(th) PDU is transmitted through the secondary link, anSN having a value between 0 and 127 is of no assistance indistinguishing the order of received PDUs. The SN version is a parameterbringing about an effect of extending SNs so that a UE can distinguishPDUs although the foregoing transmission situation occurs. The RNC 110increases the SN version by 1 each time an SN of a PDU formed for eachlink is wrapped around, and periodically broadcasts the SN version.Herein, the wraparound of an SN indicates a return from 127 to 0, by wayof example.

An SC indicator forming the selective combining assistance data is avalue indicating if it is possible to selectively-combine a PDUtransmitted through a corresponding link with a PDU transmitted throughanother link. The SC indicator can be determined by checking if an RLCconfiguration of the corresponding link satisfies the first and secondconditions stated above. For example, if a particular link was drivenlater than links of neighbor links, the second condition indicating thatthe same SN should be assigned to PDUs is not satisfied. For such alink, the SC indicator is set to “Impossible” so as to instruct UEs notto perform selective combining.

For example, in this case, the number of UEs desiring to receive aparticular MBMS service in a particular cell at a start time of the MBMSservice is not so large that a PtM service should be performed. However,during the MBMS service, several UEs may move to the cell, initiatingthe PtM service. In this case, because a link of the cell is differentfrom a link of another cell in terms of an SN system, a UE cannotperform selective combining between a link of the cell and a link ofanother cell.

A UE 116, while receiving the MBMS service through a serving cell 112,detects a condition indicating that a radio signal exceeds a threshold.Then the UE 116 sets up a radio link through which it can receive anMBMS service from a new cell 114. In order to set up a radio link to thenew cell 114, the UE 116 should analyze control information transmittedfrom the new cell 114 over an MCCH. The control information includesselective combining assistance data.

The UE 116 determines if its desired MBMS service is provided from thenew cell 114 over a common channel, by analyzing the controlinformation. If its desired MBMS service is provided, the UE 116determines if selective combining is possible. If the selectivecombining is possible, the UE 116 analyzes information on a radio bearerfor the MBMS service from the control information, and sets up asecondary link through which it can receive the MBMS service. The radiobearer includes an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a physical (PHY) layer. Alink includes the MAC layer and the PHY layer among them. Therefore, theUE 116 sets up a radio link established for the new cell 114 as asecondary link, and sets up a radio link formed for the serving cell 112as a primary link.

The UE 116 forms a selective combiner for performing selective combiningon PDUs received through the primary link and PDUs received through thesecondary link. The UE 116 provides SN version information correspondingto the primary link and SN version information corresponding to thesecondary link to the selective combiner. The selective combiner obtainsan SN-extended effect by combining an SN with an SN version. Herein, avalue determined by combining an SN with an SN version is called an“extended SN” of a corresponding PDU.

The UE 116 distinguishes duplicately received PDUs among PDUs receivedthrough the primary link and the secondary link, using the extended SN.The UE 116 performs a duplication check operation of discarding one ofthe duplicately received PDUs and transmitting the remaining PDUs to anupper layer. Further the UE 116 performs an operation of reordering PDUsprovided through the duplication check so that PDUs can be sequentiallytransmitted to the RLC layer. The duplication check operation and thereordering operation constitute the selective combining operationproposed in the present invention.

For an embodiment of the present invention described above, thefollowing operations should be described in detail.

First, signaling between an RNC, a cell, and an UE for providingselective combining assistance data should be proposed.

Second, an operation of the RNC for managing selective combiningassistance data and periodically transmitting the selective combiningassistance data should be proposed.

Third, an operation of performing selective combining by a UE using theselective combining assistance data should be proposed.

1. Signaling

FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram illustrating a procedure for announcingselective combining assistance data of each cell by an RNC and receivingthe selective combining assistance data by a UE according to anembodiment of the present invention. It is assumed in FIG. 2 that a UE,while receiving a particular MBMS service via a serving cell, startsreceiving a good signal via a target cell. The “serving cell” refers toa cell that has been providing a particular MBMS service to the UE,while the “target cell” refers to a cell that will newly provide theparticular MBMS service due to movement of the UE thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, in step 210, a UE receives an MCCH from a servingcell. By receiving the MCCH, the UE acquires selective combiningassistance data along with information on the type of an MBMS servicebeing currently provided via the serving cell and radio bearerinformation for link setup. The selective combining assistance dataincludes an SC indicator for indicating if the serving cell supportsselective combining, and an SN version for distinguishing a currentlytransmitted PDU.

The UE determines if its desired MBMS service is provided from theserving cell, based on the information on the type of an MBMS service.If its desired MBMS service is provided, the UE sets up a radio bearerusing radio bearer information corresponding to the MBMS service. Theradio bearer can be comprised of an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a PHYlayer. The MAC layer and the PHY layer can be defined as a term “link.”In the following description, the MAC layer and the PHY layer formed forthe serving cell will be referred to as a “primary link.”

Thereafter, the UE determines if the serving cell supports selectivecombining, based on an SC indicator constituting the selective combiningassistance data. If the serving cell does not support selectivecombining, the UE does not perform selective combining proposed in thepresent invention. However, if the serving cell supports selectivecombining, the UE stores therein an SN version constituting theselective combining assistance data.

The UE receives an RLC PDU from the serving cell through the primarylink. The LUE detects an SN from the received PDU, and increases an SNversion by 1, if it is determined that the SN has an initial value. Forexample, if an SN of a previously received PDU was set to 127 and an SNof a currently received PDU has returned to 0, the UE increases acurrent SN version stored therein by 1.

The UE, while receiving an MBMS service from the serving cell,determines if a good signal is received from neighbor cells. Receiving agood signal means having a good radio environment. If a good signal isreceived, the UE recognizes a neighbor cell transmitting the signal as atarget cell. In step 220, the UE receives an MCCH from the target cell,thereby acquiring selective combining assistance data along withinformation on the type of an MBMS service currently provided via thetarget cell and radio bearer information for link setup.

The UE determines if its desired MBMS service is provided from thetarget cell, based on the information on the type of an MBMS service.Here, the “desired MBMS service” indicates the MBMS service beingcurrently provided from the serving cell. If its desired MBMS service isprovided, the UE determines if the target cell supports selectivecombining, based on an SC indicator constituting the selective combiningassistance data. If the target cell does not support selectivecombining, the UE does not perform selective combining proposed in thepresent invention even though the serving cell supports selectivecombining. That is, if the target cell does not support selectivecombining, the UE does not form a secondary link for the target cell.However, if the target cell supports selective combining, the UE sets upa radio bearer using radio bearer information corresponding to the MBMSservice. The radio bearer can be comprised of an RLC layer, a MAC layer,and a PHY layer. In the following description, the MAC layer and the PHYlayer formed for the target cell will be referred to as a “secondarylink.” If the secondary link is formed, the UE stores therein an SNversion constituting the selective combining assistance data.

The UE receives a PDU from the target cell through the secondary link.The UE detects an SN from the received PDU, and increases the SN versionby 1, if a value of the SN is changed to an initial value.

2. Operation of RNC

For an embodiment of the present invention, an RNC should manageselective combining assistance data and periodically provide theselective combining assistance data to each cell. A detailed descriptionwill now be made of an operation of periodically transmitting selectivecombining assistance data by the RNC.

The RNC periodically transmits selective combining assistance data toits cells through MCCHs, which are uniquely set up for the cells. Theselective combining assistance data is uniquely set up for each MBMSservice. Therefore, if n MBMS services are provided in one cell, n typesof selective combining assistance data can be periodically transmittedover an MCCH established for the cell.

An SN version included in the selective combining assistance data ismanaged and transmitted by the RNC as described below.

Upon receiving an initial request for a particular MBMS service from itscells, the RNC forms an RLC entity, which will process MBMS data for theMBMS service. Subsequently, the RNC initializes an SN version for theMBMS service to 0. Thereafter, the RNC sequentially transmits PDUs forthe MBMS service via the RLC entity. The PDU includes an SN, whichincreases in regular succession according to its transmission order. TheSN increases up to a predetermined number beginning at 0. For example,the SN increases form 0 to 127, and then returns to 0 after 127. The RNCincreases the SN version by 1 at the time when the SN returns to 0.

The SN version of each cell, managed in the foregoing manner, isperiodically announced by the RNC to a cell where the particular MBMSservice is being provided, thereby enabling UEs desiring to performselective combining on the MBMS service to distinguish the SN version.

An SC indicator included in the selective combining assistance data ismanaged and transmitted by the RNC as described below.

The RNC manages an SC indicator that indicates if selective combiningcan be supported for each of MBMS services provided through its cells.Here, even the cells providing the same MBMS service can be divided intoa cell supporting selective combining and a cell not supportingselective combining. In addition, for a particular MBMS service,selective combining may not be supported regardless of cells. Based onsuch information, the SC indicator is managed by the RNC. The RNCperiodically transmits SC indicators uniquely set for MBMS services.

For example, if selective combining can be supported for a particularMBMS service provided via a cell#1, the RNC sets an SC indicator for theparticular MBMS service to “Possible” and periodically broadcasts the SCindicator via the cell#1. If selective combining cannot be supported fora particular MBMS service provided via a cell#2, the RNC sets an SCindicator for the particular MBMS service to “Impossible” andperiodically broadcasts the SC indicator.

3. Operation of UE

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing selectivecombining by a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention.It is assumed in FIG. 3 that a radio link has been set up between a UEand a serving cell and a particular MBMS service is being providedthrough the radio link.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 301, a UE receives signals from neighborcells and detects a good signal from the received signals. A definitionof the term “good signal” can be given in several ways. For example, thedefinition can be given using levels of received signals. In this case,if a level of a received signal exceeds a threshold, it can bedetermined that the received signal is a good signal. The presence ofthe good signal implies that the UE is close to a neighbor cell fromwhich the good signal was transmitted (hereinafter referred to as a“target cell”). Therefore, the UE can simultaneously receive signalsfrom a serving cell and the target cell. The number of target cells canbe one or more.

Assuming that the number of target cells is plural, in step 303, the UEreceives MCCHs from the target cells, and selects an MCCH from a targetcell from which the best signal is received. The MCCH is used fortransmitting indicators for an MBMS service provided from the targetcell, radio bearer information of the MBMS service, and selectivecombining assistance information. After detecting information receivedover the selected MCCH, the UE proceeds to step 305.

In step 305, the UE determines if the target cell is providing itsdesired MBMS service. If its desired MBMS service is being provided, theUE proceeds to step 307. However, if its desired MBMS service is notbeing provided, the UE proceeds to step 309.

In step 307, the UE determines if the target cell supports selectivecombining based on an SC indicator in the selected combining assistancedata. If it is determined from the SC indicator that the target cellsupports selective combining, the UE proceeds to step 311. Otherwise, ifit is determined that the target cell does not support selectivecombining, the UE proceeds to step 309.

In step 309, the UE selects an MCCH from a target cell from which thenext best signal is received, detects information received over theselected MCCH, and then returns to step 305.

In step 311, the UE sets up a radio link, i.e., a secondary link, to thetarget cell in order to receive its desired MBMS service. The secondarylink is set up based on the radio bearer information received over theMCCH. The radio bearer information includes physical channel informationand MAC layer information. The physical layer information is informationon a transport channel, and includes code information for a physicalchannel, the type of channel coding applied to the physical channel, achannel coding rate, and a transmission time interval (TTI). The MAClayer information includes multiplexing information for indicating ifmultiplexing is applied in a MAC layer, and service identifier (ID)information for indicating if a service ID is used in the MAC layer. TheUE sets up a new physical layer based on the physical layer information,and sets up a new MAC layer based on the MAC layer information. Thesecondary link is the newly set-up physical layer and MAC layer.

After completing setup of the secondary link, the UE forms a selectivecombiner for selective combining in step 313. Thereafter, the UEconnects the selective combiner to the primary link and the secondarylink, and performs selective combining on broadcast data receivedthrough the primary link and the secondary link. A detailed descriptionof the selective combiner will be made later with reference to FIG. 4.

In step 315, the UE continuously monitors if the primary link or thesecondary link needs to be released. The primary link or the secondarylink need to be released when a signal whose level is lower than athreshold is received. Upon detecting this situation, the UE releases alink to the corresponding cell.

For example, if a level of the signal received through the primary linkis lower than a desired level, the UE releases the primary link.Otherwise, if a level of the signal received through the secondary linkis lower than a desired level, the UE releases the secondary link. If itis determined in step 315 that only one link exists, the UE proceeds tostep 317, where it release the formed selective combiner, completing theselective combining operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a UE according to an embodimentof the present invention. It is assumed in FIG. 4 that the UE has aselective combiner for selective combining. However, in a situation inwhich selective combining is not performed due to the existence of onlya primary link to a serving cell, the UE structure will have only thestructure required for processing a signal received from the servingcell. Therefore, the UE is formed of only a primary link 410 including aphysical layer 412 and a MAC layer 414, and an RLC layer 440.Thereafter, if the UE desires to newly receive, even from a target cell,the same MBMS service as the MBMS service being provided from theserving cell, the UE forms a secondary link to the target cell. FIG. 4illustrates the UE structure in which the secondary link is formed.

Referring to FIG. 4, the UE acquires physical layer information and MAClayer information through an MCCH from a target cell to which itssecondary link is to be set up. Thereafter, the UE sets up a newphysical layer 422 based on the physical layer information, and sets upa new MAC layer 424 based on the MAC layer information. The setup of thephysical layer 422 and the MAC layer 424 indicate the setup of a newsecondary link. Also, the UE sets up a selective combiner 430 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Thereafter, the UE connectsthe primary link 410 and the secondary link 420 to its lower layer, andconnects the RLC layer 440 to its upper layer.

The selective combiner 430 includes a duplication checker 432 and areordering buffer 434. The selective combiner 430 discards duplicatePDUs received through the primary link 410 and the secondary link 420,reorders the remaining PDUs in the order of their transmission, andtransmits the reordered PDUs to the RLC layer 440. That is, the samePDUs can be received through the primary link 410 and the secondary link420. In this case, the duplication checker 432 included in the selectivecombiner 430 discards one of the PDU received through the primary link410 and the PDU received through the secondary link 420, and outputsonly the remaining one PDU. It is not necessary such that the PDUsoutput from the duplication checker 432 have the same order as theirtransmission order. Therefore, the PDUs output from the duplicationchecker 432 are temporarily stored in the reordering buffer 434 in whichthey are reordered in the order of their transmission and thentransmitted to the RLC layer 440.

In order for the duplication checker 432 to determine if the PDUprovided from the primary link 410 and the PDU provided from thesecondary link 420 duplicate each other, it requires separateinformation. An SN of the PDU can be used as the required information.However, it is not necessary such that PDUs having the same SN areduplicate PDUs for the following reason. The SN is assigned at statedperiods, and if a delay difference between the PDU provided through theprimary link 410 and the PDU provided through the secondary link 420exceeds one period, it cannot be regarded that the two PDUs areduplicate PDUs. Determining whether the PDUs duplicate each other can beachieved based on an SN version.

As defined above, the SN version is a value, which varies according tothe period. Therefore, if the PDUs have the same SN but have differentSN versions, it cannot be determined that they are duplicate PDUs. Inorder to solve this problem, the present invention proposes an extendedSN as separate information for checking the duplicity. The extended SNis defined as shown in Equation (1):Extended SN _(—) x=[SN version_(—) x||SN _(—) x]  (1)

As shown in Equation (1), an extended SN ‘extended SN_x’ of a PDUprovided through a link x is a value determined by concatenating an SNversion ‘SN version_x’ for the link x to an SN ‘SN_x’ for the link x.For example, an SN version of a primary link is ‘001’ and an SN of a PDUreceived through the primary link is ‘0000111’, then the extended SNbecomes ‘0010000111’.

Therefore, the duplication checker 432 calculates extended SNs for thePDU provided from the primary link 410 and the PDU provided from thesecondary link 420, respectively, and compares the extended SNs, therebychecking duplicity. However, SNs of the PDUs are not replaced with theextended SNs. The extended SNs are used only for determining the orderof the PDUs received from the primary link 410 and the secondary link420.

Detailed Selective Combining Operation in UE

A detailed description will now be made of operations of the duplicationchecker and the reordering buffer for selective combining in a UEaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Operation of Duplication Checker

The duplication checker 432 discards PDUs duplicately received through aprimary link and a secondary link, or determinespermanently-not-received PDUs (hereinafter referred to as“permanently-missing PDUs”). That is, the duplication checker 432transmits only one of PDUs received from the primary link and thesecondary link to an upper layer, and discards the remaining PDUs. ThePDUs can be received with a predetermined time delay. Further, theduplication checker 432 determines permanently missing PDUs that are notreceived through any one of the primary link and the secondary link, andreports the permanently missing PDUs to the upper layer. There areseveral possible methods for realizing the operation of the duplicationchecker 432. The following description can be one of the possiblemethods.

A definition of the parameters used in the following description will begiven below.

V[Delivered]: This is the largest value among SNs of PDUs delivered tothe reordering buffer 434, and will be represented herein by V[D] forsimplicity.

S[Not Received]: This is an SN set of first-missing PDUs (hereinafterreferred to as “missing PDUs”) from any one of the primary link and thesecondary link, and will be represented herein by S[NR] for simplicity.The S[NR] is first initialized to an empty set. Thereafter, if anymissing PDU occurs from the primary link or the secondary link, it isdetermined whether the missing PDU has ever been delivered to thereordering buffer 434 before a corresponding point of time. If themissing PDU has never been delivered to the reordering buffer 434, anRLC SN of the missing PDU is registered in S[NR]. However, if themissing PDU has been previously delivered to the reordering buffer 434,the missing PDU is disregarded.

If an SN of the missing PDU is already registered in S[NR], an SN of themissing PDU is erased from S[NR] because it the missing PDU is a PDUmissing from both the primary link and the secondary link. Finally, if aPDU having an SN registered in S[NR] is normally received through theremaining link, an SN of the normally received PDU is erased from S[NR].

S[Missing]: This is an SN set of all missing PDUs that were not normallyreceived from any one of the primary link and the secondary link, andwill be represented herein by S[M] for simplicity. That is, the SNregistered in S[M] is an SN erased from S[NR] because its PDU is missingfrom both the primary link and the secondary link.

Upon receiving a first PDU through the newly formed secondary link, theduplication checker 432 initializes V[D] to an SN of a PDU that was lastreceived from the primary link and delivered to the reordering buffer434. Instead of performing the initialization of V[D] in a separateprocedure, the duplication checker 432 can update V[D] with the highestSN among SNs of PDUs that have been received through the primary linkand delivered to the upper layer before the secondary link is formed.Thereafter, the duplication checker 432 compares an SN of the PDU firstreceived through the secondary link with the SN registered in V[D]. Ifthe SN of the PDU is larger than the SN registered in V[D], theduplication checker 432 delivers the PDU to the reordering buffer 434.In this case, the V[D] is updated with an SN of the PDU delivered to thereordering buffer 434. Thereafter, if an PDU having an SN larger thanthe SN registered in V[D] is received through the primary link and thesecondary link, the duplication checker 432 performs the same operation.

However, the duplication checker 432 determines if an SN of a first PDUreceived through the secondary link or an SN of a PDU later receivedthrough the primary link or the secondary link is equal to or smallerthan the SN registered in V[D]. If the SN of the PDU is equal to orsmaller than the SN registered in V[D], the duplication checker 432determines if there is any SN that is identical to the SN of the PDU asan element of S[NR]. If there is no identical SN in the S[NR], theduplication checker 432 discards the PDU, determining that the PDU wasduplicately received. This indicates that the same PDUs were duplicatelyreceived through the primary link and the secondary link.

However, if the SN of the PDU exists in the S[NR] as an element thereof,the duplication checker 432 delivers the PDU to the reordering buffer434. Then the duplication checker 432 deletes the SN of the PDU, whichexists in the S[NR] as an element thereof. This corresponds to the casein which the PDU was previously missing through any one of the primarylink and the secondary link, but the missing PDU was received laterthrough the remaining link.

If any missing PDU occurs through the primary link or the secondarylink, the duplication checker 432 determines if the SN of the missingPDU exists in the S[NR] as an element thereof. If the SN of the missingPDU exists in the S[NR] as an element thereof, the duplication checker432 deletes the SN of the missing PDU from the S[NR]. Thereafter, theduplication checker 432 registers the SN of the missing PDU in S[M] asan element thereof, and reports the SN registered in the S[M] as anelement to the reordering buffer 434 such that the reordering buffer 434can refer to the report in reordering the received PDUs. The duplicationchecker 432 deletes the SN reported to the reordering buffer 434 fromthe S[M]. This corresponds to the case in which the corresponding PDU ismissing from both the primary link and the secondary link. However, ifthe SN of the missing PDU does not exist in the S[NR] as an elementthereof, the duplication checker 432 registers the SN of the missing PDUin the S[NR] as an element thereof.

The duplication checker 432 regards the following situations as themissing of the corresponding PDU.

First, in a situation where for each link, a difference between an SN ofa PDU received at a specific time and an SN of a previously-received PDUis larger than 1, the duplication checker 432 regards a PDU having areception-failed SN as a missing PDU. For this, the duplication checker432 should manage an SN of a previously received PDU for each link.

For example, if an SN of a PDU received from a primary link at aspecific time is 13 but an SN of a previously-received PDU is 10, theduplication checker 432 regards a PDU with an SN=11 and a PDU with anSN=12 as missing PDUs.

Alternatively, there is another possible method for managing SNs of PDUsto be received. For example, if an SN of a PDU received from a primarylink at a specific time is 10 but an SN of a successively-received PDUis 13, the duplication checker 432 can regard a PDU with an SN=11 and aPDU with an SN=12 as missing PDUs.

Second, the duplication checker 432 can determine missing PDUs by takingboth a primary link and a secondary link into consideration at a timewhen a PDU is first received through the secondary link. That is, whenan SN of a PDU first received through the secondary link, afterinitialization of V[D] is larger than an initial value of V[D], theduplication checker 432 regards PDUs having SNs existing between theinitial value of V[D] and the SN of the first PDU as missing PDUs.

For example, if the V[D] is initialized to 5 and an SN of a PDU firstreceived through the secondary link is 10, the duplication checker 432regards PDUs with SNs=6, 7, 8 and 9 as missing PDUs. This indicates thata situation in which the PDU transmitted by the secondary link goes 5PDUs ahead of the PDU transmitted by the primary link. However, adifference between an initial value of the V[D] and an SN of the firstPDU is not larger than 1, the duplication checker 432 regards that thereis no missing PDU.

Operation of Reordering Buffer

The reordering buffer 434 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention reorders PDUs delivered from the duplication checker 432 inthe order of SN, and delivers the PDUs to an upper layer according to apredetermined rule. A detailed description of the operation of thereordering buffer 434 will be made below.

The reordering buffer 434 stores PDUs delivered from the duplicationchecker 432 in the order of SN. Thereafter, the reordering buffer 434checks SNs of the stored PDUs.

As a result of the SN check, the reordering buffer 434 regards PDUscorresponding to an SN gap as missing PDUs. The reordering buffer 434stores the smallest SN among SNs of the missing PDUs in a parameterV[First Gap]. When the V[First Gap] is determined, the reordering buffer434 delivers PDUs having SNs smaller than V[First Gap] to the upperlayer.

After delivering the corresponding PDUs, the reordering buffer 434updates the V[First Gap] with a new SN. For the update of the V[FirstGap], the foregoing criteria are equally applied. When the V[First Gap]is updated, the reordering buffer 434 delivers PDUs having SNs smallerthan the updated V[First Gap] to the upper layer. The update of V[FirstGap] is limited to the case where a PDU corresponding to V[First Gap] isreceived and the case where it is informed that a PDU corresponding toV[First Gap] is a permanently missing PDU.

As described above, the duplication checker 432 delivers only one ofduplicately received PDUs among PDUs received from the primary link andthe secondary link to the reordering buffer 434, and discards theremaining PDUs. Further, the duplication checker 432 determines apermanently missing PDU and reports the permanently missing PDU to thereordering buffer 434. If the PDUs delivered by the duplication checker432 are in good order, the reordering buffer 434 delivers the PDUs tothe upper layer, thereby obtaining a selective combining gain withoutaffecting an operation of an RLC layer.

Example of Selective Combining

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a UE selective combinerfor performing selective combining according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, by way of example. It is assumed herein that PDUswith SNs=11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are sequentiallyreceived through a primary link at reception times T(1) to T(9),respectively, and PDUs with SNs=15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and24 are sequentially received through a secondary link at reception timesT(1) to T(9), respectively. Also, it is assumed that the secondary linkis set up at time T(0) and V[D] is initialized to 10 at the time T(0).

Referring to FIG. 5, a duplication checker 432 receives a PDU with anSN=11 (hereinafter referred to as “SN(11)”) through a primary link and aPDU with an SN=15 (hereinafter referred to as “SN(15)”) through asecondary link at time T(1). Thereafter, the duplication checker 432updates V[D] with 15, and registers SNs=12, 13, and 14 existing between11 and 15 in S[NR]. The duplication checker 432 delivers the SN(11) andthe SN(15) to a reordering buffer 434. The reordering buffer 434 setsV[First Gap] to 12, and delivers the SN(11) representative of a PDUhaving an SN smaller than the V[First Gap] to an RLC layer.

At time T(2), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(12) through theprimary link and an SN(16) through the secondary link. The duplicationchecker 432 updates the V[D] with 16 based on an SN received through thesecondary link, and deletes 12, which is an element of the S[NR], basedon an SN received through the primary link. Thereafter, the duplicationchecker 432 delivers the SN(12) and the SN(16) to the reordering buffer434. The reordering buffer 434 updates the V[First Gap] with 13, anddelivers the SN(12) to an upper layer.

At time T(3), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(13) through theprimary link and an SN(17) through the secondary link. The duplicationchecker 432 updates the V[D] with 17 based on an SN received through thesecondary link, and deletes 13, which is an element of the S[NR], basedon an SN received through the primary link. Thereafter, the duplicationchecker 432 delivers the SN(13) and the SN(17) to the reordering buffer434. The reordering buffer 434 updates the V[First Gap] with 14, anddelivers the SN(13) to the upper layer.

At time T(4), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(14) through theprimary link and fails to receive a PDU through the secondary link. Theduplication checker 432 maintains the V[D] at 17, and deletes 14, whichis an element of the S[NR], based on an SN received through the primarylink. Thereafter, the duplication checker 432 delivers the SN(14) to thereordering buffer 434. The reordering buffer 434 updates the V[FirstGap] with 18, and delivers the SN(14), SN(15), SN(16), and SN(17) to theupper layer.

At time T(5), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(15) through theprimary link and an SN(19) through the secondary link. The duplicationchecker 432 updates the V[D] with 19 based on an SN received through thesecondary link, and registers 18 in the S[NR] based on the SN, which wasreception-failed at T(4). Because an SN of the SN(15) received throughthe primary link is smaller than the V[D] and is not an element of theS[NR], it can be determined that the corresponding PDU is a duplicatelyreceived PDU. Therefore, the duplication checker 432 discards the SN(15)instead of delivering it to the reordering buffer 434. The SN(19) isdelivered to the reordering buffer 434. The SN(19) is stored in thereordering buffer 434 until an SN(18) corresponding to the V[First Gap]is received.

At time T(6), the duplication checker 432 fails to receive a PDU throughthe primary link and receives an SN(20) through the secondary link. Theduplication checker 432 updates the V[D] with 20 based on an SN receivedthrough the secondary link, and delivers the SN(20) to the reorderingbuffer 434.

At time T(7), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(17) through theprimary link and an SN(21) through the secondary link. The duplicationchecker 432 updates the V[D] with 21 based on an SN received through thesecondary link, and discards the SN(17), regarding it as a duplicatelyreceived PDU. The SN(21) is delivered to reordering buffer 434. Theduplication checker 432 determines that the SN(16) is a missing PDU, attime T(7). However, because the SN(16) was already received through thesecondary link and delivered to the upper layer, it is discarded insteadof being registered in the S[NR].

At time T(8), the duplication checker 432 fails to receive any PDUthrough the primary link and the secondary link.

At time T(9), the duplication checker 432 receives an SN(19) through theprimary link and an SN(23) through the secondary link. The duplicationchecker 432 updates the V[D] with 23 based on an SN received through thesecondary link, and discards the SN(19) received through the primarylink because it has already been delivered to the upper layer. TheSN(23) is delivered to the reordering buffer 434 and stored therein. Theduplication checker 432 determines at time T(9) that the SN(18) is amissing PDU based on an SN received through the primary link. Becausethe SN(18) is already registered in the S[NR] at the corresponding time,the duplication checker 432 deletes 18 from the S[NR] and then registers18 in S[M] as a new element. Because a new element is registered in theS[M], the duplication checker 432 informs the reordering buffer 434 thata PDU with an SN=18 is a permanently missing PDU. Thereafter, theduplication checker 432 erases 18 registered in the S[M]. After beinginformed that the SN(18) is a permanently-missing PDU, the reorderingbuffer 434 updates the V[First Gap] with 22 representative of a positionof the next missing PDU, and delivers SN(19), SN(20) and SN(21), whichare PDUs having SNs smaller than 22, to the upper layer.

B. Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a description has beenmade of an operation of a UE and an operation of a network whereentities for forming data to be subject to selective combining, in anappropriate size, and then assigning an SN to the data, are separatelyprovided to cells. In the first embodiment, the entity for forming datain an appropriate size and then assigning an SN to the data refers to anRLC layer. Herein, the entity for forming data in an appropriate sizeand then assigning an SN to the data will be referred to as a “sequencenumber assigning device,” for simplicity.

From a network's point of view, another method for providing selectivecombining forms only one sequence number assigning device and enablescells for permitting selective combining to share the device. Thepresent invention proposes a method for managing an SN version by anetwork in a situation in which several cells share one sequence numberassigning device. For reference, the case where sequence numberassigning devices are separately formed for respective cells is equal inoperation of a UE to the case where one sequence number assigning deviceis shared by several cells. Therefore, the following description will belimited to an operation of the network.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network in which onlyone sequence number assigning device is formed. For example, aparticular MBMS service is being provided in a cell#1 615-1 a cell#2615-2, a cell#3 615-3, a cell#4 615-4,-and a cell#5 615-5, and an RNCforms one sequence number assigning device 605 and storage devices610-1, 610-2, 610-3, 610-4, and 610-5 associated with the cells, toprovide the MBMS service.

The sequence number assigning device 605 can be an RLC layer as in thefirst embodiment. In the sequence number assigning device 605, dataassigned an SN is separately transmitted for respective cells. Beforebeing separately transmitted for the respective cells, the data isstored in their associated storage devices 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, 610-4,and 610-5. An entity for storing data before transmitting the dataseparately for the respective cells can be a MAC layer. The data storedin the storage devices 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, 610-4, and 610-5 istransmitted separately for the respective cells at an appropriate time.Therefore, even the data packets that were assigned SNs through only onesequence number assigning device 605 can be different in theirtransmission time for respective cells.

When one sequence number assigning device 605 provides data to severalstorage devices 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, 610-4, and 610-5 as illustrated inFIG. 6, SN version information is managed in the storage devices 610-1,610-2, 610-3, 610-4, and 610-5, separately formed for the respectivecells.

Each of the storage devices 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, 610-4, and 610-5, whichprovides data to its associated cell, initially sets an SN version to‘0’. Thereafter, the storage device stores the number of PDUstransmitted to the cell in a parameter N[PDU]. The N[PDU] increasesbetween 0 to 127, and returns to 0 after 127. If the SN has a differentvalue, a value of the N[PDU] is also adjusted according thereto. Whenthe N[PDU] returns to 0 from 127, the storage device increases the SNversion by 1. That is, the SN version increases by 1 when the N[PDU]returns to 0 from its maximum value. The storage device periodicallytransmits the SN version over an MCCH.

A selective combining operation proposed in the present invention isavailable only for the cells having the same sequence number assigningdevices. However, the current standard has not specified a method inwhich a UE is provided with data from which sequence number assigningdevice. Therefore, the present invention proposes a method for defininga new parameter, called a “sequence number assigning device indicator,”and periodically transmitting the parameter for each cell.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network including aplurality of sequence number assigning devices, wherein the networkperiodically transmits a sequence number assigning device indicator foreach cell. Referring to FIG. 7, a particular sequence number assigningdevice 705-1 is providing data to a cell#1 715-1, a cell#2 715-2, and acell#3 715-3, and another sequence number assigning device 705-2 isproviding data to a cell#4 715-4 and a cell#5 715-5. The network assignsunique indicators to the sequence number assigning devices 705-1 and705-2. Here, the indicators assigned to the sequence number assigningdevices should not overlap each other. For example, a size (length) of asequence number assigning device indicator can be about 5 bits. Anoperation of assigning an indicator to each of the sequence numberassigning devices 705-1 and 705-2 can be performed by an operator usingO&M (Operation and Management).

The network periodically transmits the sequence number assigning deviceindicators for respective cells, such that a UE determines whether toperform selective combining. For example, if a UE#1 720-1 recognizesthat a sequence number assigning device indicator of the cell#1 715-1 isidentical to a sequence number assigning device indicator of the cell#3715-3, it sets up a secondary link to the cell#1 715-1 or the cell#3715-3 and attempts selective combining. If a UE#2 720-2 recognizes thata sequence number assigning device indicator of the cell#3 715-3 isdifferent from a sequence number assigning device indicator of thecell#4 715-4, it does not attempt selective combining. That is, a UEmoving between the cells, from which it is assigned sequence numbers bydifferent sequence number assigning devices, does not perform selectivecombining proposed in the present invention. However, a UE movingbetween the cells, from which it is assigned sequence numbers by thesame sequence number assigning devices, performs selective combiningproposed in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a UE in the networkhaving the structure illustrated in FIG. 7. An operation of a UEillustrated in FIG. 8 is substantially identical to an operation of a UEaccording to the first embodiment, described in connection with FIG. 3.The only difference being that in FIG. 8, the UE determines whether toperform selective combining, depending on if a sequence number assigningdevice indicator of a target cell is identical to a sequence numberassigning device indicator of a serving cell. It is assumed in FIG. 8that a radio link is set up between a UE and a serving cell, and aparticular MBMS service is being provided through the radio link.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step 801, a UE receives signals from neighborcells and detects a good signal from the received signals.

Assuming that the number of target cells is plural, in step 803, the UEreceives MCCHs from the target cells, and selects an MCCH from a targetcell from which the best signal is received. The MCCH is used fortransmitting indicators for an MBMS service provided from the targetcell, radio bearer information of the MBMS service, and selectivecombining assistance information. After detecting information receivedover the selected MCCH, the UE proceeds to step 805. In step 805, the UEdetermines if its desired MBMS service is being provided by the targetcell. If its desired MBMS service is being provided, the UE proceeds tostep 807. Otherwise, if its desired MBMS service is not being provided,the UE proceeds to step 809.

In step 807, the UE determines if the target cell supports selectivecombining based on an SC indicator in the selected combining assistancedata. If it is determined from the SC indicator that the target cellsupports selective combining, the UE proceeds to step 811. Otherwise, ifit is determined that the target cell does not support selectivecombining, the UE proceeds to step 809.

In step 811, the UE compares a sequence number assigning deviceindicator acquired from the serving cell with a sequence numberassigning device indicator acquired from the target cell. If thesequence number assigning device indicator acquired from the servingcell is identical to the sequence number assigning device indicatoracquired from the target cell, the UE proceeds to step 813. However, ifthe sequence number assigning device indicator acquired from the servingcell is not identical to the sequence number assigning device indicatoracquired from the target cell, the UE proceeds to step 809.

In step 809, the UE selects an MCCH from a target cell from which thenext best signal is received, detects information received over theselected MCCH, and then returns to step 805.

In step 813, the UE sets up a radio link, i.e., a secondary link, to thetarget cell in order to receive its desired MBMS service. The secondarylink is set up based on the radio bearer information received over theMCCH. The radio bearer information includes physical channel informationand MAC layer information. The physical layer information is informationon a transport channel, and includes code information for a physicalchannel, the type of channel coding applied to the physical channel, achannel coding rate, and a transmission time interval (TTI). The MAClayer information includes multiplexing information for indicating ifmultiplexing is applied in a MAC layer, and service ID information forindicating if a service ID is used in the MAC layer. The UE sets up anew physical layer based on the physical layer information, and sets upa new MAC layer based on the MAC layer information. As indicated above,the secondary link is the newly set-up physical layer and MAC layer.

After completing setup of the secondary link, the UE forms a selectivecombiner for selective combining in step 815. Thereafter, the UEconnects the selective combiner to the primary link and the secondarylink, and performs selective combining on broadcast data receivedthrough the primary link and the secondary link.

In step 817, the UE continuously monitors if the primary link or thesecondary link needs to be released. The primary link or the secondarylink needs to be released when a signal whose level is lower than athreshold is received. Upon detecting this situation, the UE releases alink to the corresponding cell.

For example, if a level of the signal received through the primary linkis lower than a desired level, the UE releases the primary link.However, if a level of the signal received through the secondary link islower than a desired level, the UE releases the secondary link. If it isdetermined in step 817 that only one link exists, the UE proceeds tostep 819 where it release the formed selective combiner, therebycompleting the selective combining operation.

C. Third Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a UE according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. It is assumed in FIG. 9 that whendata is received from a plurality of links, a selective combiner isformed for selective combining. Here, the “selective combining” refersto a technique for receiving data through a plurality of cells (orlinks), thereby decreasing possibility of data loss. Therefore, thenumber of cells (or links) through which a UE receives data does notaffect an operation of the UE. For simplicity, it is assumed herein thatthe UE receives data from only 2 cells.

Referring to FIG. 9, a selective combiner 920 includes a duplicationchecker 915 and a reordering buffer 910. The duplication checker 915 isconnected to a plurality of links 925 and 930. The reordering buffer 910is connected to a sequence number assigning device 905.

Detailed Selective Combining Operation in UE

A detailed description will now be made of operations of the duplicationchecker and the reordering buffer for selective combining in a UEaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Parameters Managed by Duplication Checker

The duplication checker 915 manages the following parameters for eachcell to which a link is set up. Herein, the UE sets up links to n cells,and the respective cells are represented by c_1 925, . . . , c_n 930.

Parameters managed by the duplication checker 915 for a particular cellx includes:

VR[c_x]: This is an SN of a PDU expected to be received next, and has avalue determined by adding 1 to an SN of a PDU last received from a cellx.

VM[c_x]: This is a set of SNs of PDUs not received from a cell x.

Parameters managed by the duplication checker 915 commonly for all cellsinclude:

VD: This is a set of SNs of PDUs delivered to the reordering buffer 910by the duplication checker 915. This is used for duplication check.

Highest-delivered_SN: This represents the highest SN among SNs of PDUsdelivered to the reordering buffer 910 by the duplication checker 915.

Permanently_missing_SN: This is a set of SNs of permanently missingPDUs.

Parameter Managed by Reordering Buffer

A parameter managed by the reordering buffer 910 includes:

First_missing_SN: The reordering buffer 910 regards PDUs correspondingto an SN gap as missing PDUs, and stores, in this parameter, an SN of amissing PDU having the lowest SN (or an SN of a missing PDUcorresponding to the earliest gap) among the missing PDUs.

Operation of Duplication Checker

The duplication checker 915 manages respective parameters and performsduplication check in the following manner. In this embodiment, it isassumed that the selective combiner 920 is formed as soon as a primarylink is set up. That is, when a UE sets up a physical layer, a MAC layerand an RLC layer to receive an MBMS service from a cell#1, it also setsup the selective combiner 920.

In the previous embodiment, the selective combiner 920 is formed, whenthe UE sets up a new link to another cell thereby increasing the numberof its links to two or more. A difference derived from the twosituations consists in an initialization operation of the V[D] orHighest_delivered_SN. That is, if a selective combiner exists even in asituation where there is only one link, the initialization of the V[D]described in the previous embodiment is not required.

The operating steps of each embodiment are listed herein below.

(1) The duplication checker 915 receives a PDU from a particular cell x.

(2) The duplication checker 915 compares an SN of the received PDU withVR[c_x].

(3) The duplication checker 915 proceeds to (4) if an SN of the receivedPDU is larger than VR[c_x], and proceeds to (5) if an SN of the receivedPDU is equal to VR[c_x].

(4) The duplication checker 915 adds SNs corresponding to values betweenan SN of the received PDU and VR[c_x] to VM[c_x]. An SN to be includedin the VM[c_x] includes even the VR[c_x].

(5) The duplication checker 915 updates VR[c_x] with a value determinedby adding 1 to an SN of the received PDU.

(6) The duplication checker 915 compares an SN of the received PDU withHighest-delivered_SN. If Highest_delivered_SN is larger than an SN ofthe received PDU, the duplication checker 915 proceeds to (7).Otherwise, the duplication checker 915 proceeds to (11).

(7) The duplication checker 915 updates Highest_delivered_SN with an SNof the received PDU.

(8) The duplication checker 915 delivers the received PDU to thereordering buffer 910.

(9) The duplication checker 915 adds an SN of the delivered PDU to VD.

(10) The duplication checker 915 ends the foregoing process, and waitsuntil the next PDU is received.

(11) The duplication checker 915 determines whether an SN of thereceived PDU is included in VD. If an SN of the received PDU is includedin VD, the duplication checker 915 proceeds to (12). However, if an SNof the perceived PDU is not included in VD, the duplication checker 915proceeds to (14).

(12) The duplication checker 915 discards the received PDU.

(13) The duplication checker 915 ends the foregoing process, and waitsuntil the next PDU is received.

(14) The duplication checker 915 delivers the received PDU to thereordering buffer 910.

(15) The duplication checker 915 adds an SN of the delivered PDU to VD.

(16) The duplication checker 915 ends the foregoing process, and waitsuntil the next PDU is received.

A description will now be made of an operation in which the duplicationchecker 915 manages a parameter VM and checks a permanently missing PDU.

(1) The duplication checker 915 monitors SNs stored in parameters VMsmanaged for respective cells.

(2) If a particular SN is stored in all of the parameters VMs, theduplication checker 915 stores the corresponding SN inPermanently_missing_SN. For example, if a particular UE is receivingPDUs from a cell#1, a cell#2 and a cell#3, VM(c_1)=[10, 15, 18],VM(c_2)=[10, 13, 15], and VM(c_3)=[10, 15], then SN=10 and SN=15 arestored in Permanently_missing_SN.

(3) The duplication checker 915 reports the SNs stored inPermanently_missing_SN to the reordering buffer 910.

(4) The duplication checker 915 deletes the SNs reported to thereordering buffer 910 from Permanently_missing_SN.

(5) The duplication checker 915 deletes the SNs reported to thereordering buffer 910 from the parameters VMs.

Operation of Reordering Buffer

The reordering buffer 910 stores the PDUs delivered from the duplicationchecker 915 in the order of SN, and regards PDUs corresponding to a partwhere an increment of the SN is larger than 1, as missing PDUs. Adetailed description of an operation of the reordering buffer 910 willbe made herein below.

(1) A PDU delivered by the duplication checker 915 arrives at thereordering buffer 910.

(2) The reordering buffer 910 stores an SN of the received PDU in theorder of SN.

(3) If an SN of the received PDU is equal to First_missing_SN, itindicates that a PDU corresponding to First_missing_SN is no longer amissing PDU. Therefore, the reordering buffer 910 updatesFirst_missing_SN with an SN of a missing PDU having the lowest SN amongthe remaining missing PDUs.

(4) The reordering buffer 910 delivers PDUs having SNs lower than theupdated First_missing_SN to an upper layer.

(5) If the duplication checker 915 reports SNs of the permanentlymissing PDUs, the reordering buffer 910 regards that the missing PDUscorresponding to the SNs have not been received.

(6) If one of the permanently missing PDUs is identical toFirst_missing_SN, it indicates that the PDU corresponding toFirst_missing_SN is no longer a missing PDU. Therefore, the reorderingbuffer 910 updates First_missing_SN with an SN of a missing PDU havingthe lowest SN among the remaining missing PDUs.

(7) The reordering buffer 910 delivers PDUs having SNs lower than theupdated First_missing_SN to the upper layer.

D. Fourth Embodiment

A description will now be made of an operation of a selective combinerimplemented with a reordering buffer and a duplication checker accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Structure of UE

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an RLC structure of a UE whereina selective combining function is included in an RLC entity according toa fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, aselective combiner 1035 receives PDUs from a plurality of cells througha lower layer 1040. The selective combiner 1035 discards duplicate PDUsfrom the received PDUs, and reorders the remaining PDUs. The reorderedPDUs are delivered to an RLC layer 1030.

The selective combiner 1035 manages an SCR-window in order to performthe foregoing operation. The SCR-window distinguishes the order of thereceived PDUs and manages PDUs stored in a reordering buffer. In orderto perform an operation of the reordering buffer, the SCR-window managesparameters next_expect SN and ScrWindow_UpperEdge.

Structure and Operation of SCR-Window

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the SCR-window.Referring to FIG. 11, an SCR-window 1165 includes an ScrWindow_UpperEdge1150 and an SCR_WINDOW_SIZE 1155.

The ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 is the highest SN among SNs of PDUs thatthe UE has received up to now. Therefore, if an SN of a newly receivedPDU is higher than the existing ScrWindow_UpperEdge, ScrWindow_UpperEdgeis updated with a new SN. That is, the ScrWindow_UpperEdge is updatedwith an SN of the newly received PDU.

The SCR_WINDOW_SIZE 1155 is a parameter that an RNC sets and announcesto UEs. The SCR_WINDOW_SIZE 1155 indicates a possible maximum receptiontime difference between two neighbor cells. If an RNC has setSCR_WINDOW_SIZE between two unspecified cells to x and announced it toUEs, the RNC should set a reception time difference between the twocells such that the reception time difference should not exceed x PDUs.

The SCR-window 1165 is formed by an upper edge and a lower edge. In theSCR-window 1165, the ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 is defined as an upperedge. The lower edge is determined by a value obtained by performing amodulo-128 operation on (ScrWindow_UpperEdge—SCR_WINDOW_SIZE). TheSCR-window 1165 progresses in the same direction each time theScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 is updated.

If an SN of a PDU received at a specific time is located within theSCR-window 1165, it is regarded that the SN of the PDU is smaller thanthe ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150. If an SN of the received PDU is locatedoutside the SCR-window 1165, it is regarded that the SN of the receivedPDU is larger than the ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150.

For example, assuming that at a specified time, the ScrWindow_UpperEdge1150 is 100 and the SCR_WINDOW_SIZE 1155 is 64, in the SCR-window 1165,an upper edge is 100 and a lower edge is 36. If a PDU with an SN=50arrives after a lapse of time, the SN=50 is located within theSCR-window 1165. Therefore, the SN=50 is smaller than theScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 of 100.

If a PDU with an SN=30 arrives after a further lapse of time, the SN=30is located outside the SCR-window 1165. Therefore, the SN=30 is largerthan the ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 of 100. Therefore, theScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 is updated with 30, and a new lower edge of theSCR-window 1165 becomes 96, which is determined by performing amodulo-128 operation on −34.

If a PDU with an SN=120 has arrived after a further lapse of time, theSN=120 is located within the SCR-window 1165, so that the SN=120 issmaller than the ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150.

As described above, the SCR-window 1165 shifts along with the update ofthe ScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150, and is used for determining if an SN of areceived PDU is larger or smaller than the ScrWindow UpperEdge 1150.Only the PDUs having SNs within the SCR-window 1165 can be stored in areordering buffer. For example, if a lower edge is 0 and an upper edgeis 64 in the SCR-window 1165, only the PDUs having SNs between 0 and 64are stored in the reordering buffer. The shift of the SCR-window 1165causes a change in SNs of the PDUs stored in the reordering buffer.

A parameter next expect SN, another parameter used in the selectivecombiner, is a parameter in which an SN of a first missing PDU amongmissing PDUs is stored. That is, this parameter is the same parameter asV[First Gap] used in the first embodiment. An initial value of theScrWindow_UpperEdge 1150 is a value, which is smaller by 1 than an SN ofa PDU that the selective combiner first received. An initial value ofthe next_expect_SN is an SN of a PDU that the selective combiner firstreceived.

Operation of Selective Combiner

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a selective combineraccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Morespecifically, an operation of the selective combiner illustrated in FIG.12 includes a process of forming or changing a window (or SCR-window), aprocess of storing broadcast data (or PDU) received by the window in areordering buffer or delivering the broadcast data to an upper layer,and a process of updating an SN (or next_expect_SN) of missing broadcastdata and then delivering the broadcast data stored in the reorderingbuffer to the upper layer.

Referring to FIG. 12, in step 1205, a selective combiner receives aparticular PDU. In step 1207, the selective combiner determines if an SNof the received PDU is located within SCR-window. If the SN is locatedwithin the SCR-window, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1225.Otherwise, if the SN is not located within the SCR-window, the selectivecombiner proceeds to step 1210. That the SN is not located within theSCR-window indicates that the SN is larger than ScrWindow_UpperEdge.

In step 1210, the selective combiner stores the received PDU in areordering buffer. Thereafter, in step 1212, the selective combinerupdates the ScrWindow_UpperEdge with the SN. In step 1215, the selectivecombiner newly sets SCR-window based on the updated ScrWindow_UpperEdge.That is, the selective combiner updates the SCR-window by shifting alower edge of the SCR-window by the shifted length of theScrWindow_UpperEdge. For example, if it is determined in step 1207 thatScrWindow_UpperEdge is 10 and SN is 15, the ScrWindow_UpperEdge isshifted to 15 by 5. In step 1215, the lower edge of the SCR-window isalso shifted by 5. That is, the upper edge of the SCR-window is shiftedby 5.

In step 1217, the selective combiner delivers PDUs, whose SNs arelocated outside the new SCR-window, among the PDUs stored in thereordering buffer, to an upper layer. For example, it is assumed that aPDU with an SN=75 is stored in the reordering buffer. In this case, theSN=75 was located within the SCR-window (74 to 10) before it is shifted.However, the SN=75 is located outside the SCR-window (79 to 15) after itis shifted. Therefore, the PDU with an SN=75 is delivered to the upperlayer. Here, that the PDU with an SN=75 is stored in the reorderingbuffer indicates that there is a PDU that the selective combinerpreviously failed to receive. Also, that SN=75 is located outside theSCR-window indicates that there is no possibility that the selectivecombiner will receive the reception-failed PDU. Therefore, the PDU withan SN=75 is delivered to the upper layer even though reordering is notcompleted.

In step 1220, the selective combiner determines if next-expect_SN islocated outside the SCR-window. If the next-expect_SN is located outsidethe SCR-window, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1260. Otherwise,if the next_expect_SN is located within the SCR-window, the selectivecombiner proceeds to step 1295 where it waits until the next PDUarrives.

That the next-expect_SN is located within the SCR-window indicates thatthere is no possibility that the selective combiner will receive amissing PDU corresponding to the next_expect_SN. Therefore, theselective combiner should set a new_next_expect SN, and deliver PDUshaving SNs smaller than the new next_expect_SN among the PDUs stored inthe reordering buffer, to the upper layer. Steps 1260 and 1265 areprovided for the foregoing operation.

In step 1260, the selective combiner updates next_expect_SN with an SNof a first missing PDU in the reordering buffer. For example, if missingPDUs with SNs=100, 120, and 10 are stored in the reordering buffer, theselective combiner updates next_expect_SN with 100.

Thereafter, in step 1265, the selective combiner delivers PDUs havingSNs smaller than the next_expect_SN to the upper layer. These PDUs aresuccessfully reordered PDUs. After completion of the delivery, theselective combiner proceeds to step 1295 where it ends all of theprocesses and waits until a new PDU arrives.

If it is determined in step 1207 that an SN of the received PDU islocated within SCR-window, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1225.

In step 1225, the selective combiner determines if the PDU has beenpreviously received. This can be done by determining if an SN of the PDUis already stored in the reordering buffer. That is, if a PDU with theSN is already stored in the reordering buffer, the selective combinerproceeds to step 1240 because it indicates that the PDU has beenduplicately received. In step 1204, the selective combiner discards theduplicate PDU. Thereafter, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1295,where it ends all of the processes and waits until the next PDU arrives.

However, if a PDU with the SN is not stored in the reordering buffer, itindicates that the PDU is not a duplicate PDU. Therefore, the selectivecombiner proceeds to step 1230, where it stores the PDU in thereordering buffer.

In step 1235, the selective combiner determines if an SN of the receivedPDU is identical to next_expect_SN. If they are not identical to eachother, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1295, where it ends allof the processes and waits until the next PDU arrives.

However, if an SN of the received PDU is identical to next_expect_SN,the selective combiner proceeds to step 1245. In step 1245, theselective combiner updates the next_expect_SN with an SN of a firstmissing PDU in the reordering buffer.

In step 1250, the selective combiner delivers PDUs with SNs smaller thanthe next_expect_SN to the upper layer. These PDUs are successfullyreordered PDUs.

After step 1250, the selective combiner proceeds to step 1295 where itends all of the processes and waits until a new PDU arrives.

As can be understood from the foregoing description, a selectivecombiner according to the present invention performs selective combiningbased on SNs, thereby obtaining a selective combining gain. Therefore, aUE can receive a higher-quality service with the same radio resource.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A method for combining broadcast data packets from a plurality ofcells in a user equipment (UE), the method comprising the steps of:receiving a broadcast data packet supporting selective combining fromthe plurality of cells, respectively; if a sequence number of thereceived broadcast data packet does not fall within a reception window,storing the broadcast data packet in a buffer and updating the receptionwindow based on the sequence number; if the sequence number of thereceived broadcast data packet falls within the reception window,determining if a broadcast data packet having the sequence number haspreviously been stored in the buffer; discarding the broadcast datapacket, if the broadcast data packet has previously been stored in thebuffer; and storing the broadcast data packet in the buffer, if thebroadcast data packet has not previously been stored in the buffer,wherein the reception window is determined based on a foremost sequencenumber among sequence numbers of the broadcast data packets received,and a predetermined window size that is determined based on a maximumerror range for reception points of broadcast data packets having a samesequence number, transmitted from different cells.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of delivering, to an upper layer, abroadcast data packet having a sequence number which is outside a rangeof the reception window due to the update of the reception window, amongthe broadcast data packets stored in the buffer.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising the steps of: reordering broadcast data packetsstored in the buffer in the order of sequence number; and delivering, toan upper layer, a broadcast data packet having a sequence numberpreceding a reception-failed sequence number, wherein a reception-failedsequence number is a sequence number for which the correspondingbroadcast data racket is missing.
 4. An apparatus for combiningbroadcast data packets from a plurality of cells in a user equipment(UE), the apparatus comprising: a buffer; and a selective combiner forstoring a received broadcast data packet supporting selective combiningin the buffer, if a sequence number of the broadcast data packetrespectively received from the plurality of cells does not fall within areception window, and storing the received broadcast data packet in thebuffer, if the sequence number of the received broadcast data packetfalls within the reception window and has not previously been stored inthe buffer; wherein the selective combiner updates the reception window,if the sequence number of the received broadcast data packet does notfall within the reception window, and discards the received broadcastdata packet, if the sequence number of the received broadcast datapacket falls within the reception window and has previously been storedin the buffer, wherein the reception window is determined based on aforemost sequence number among sequence numbers of the broadcast datapackets received, and a predetermined window size that is determinedbased on a maximum error range for reception points of broadcast datapackets having a same sequence number, transmitted from different cells.5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the selective combiner delivers, toan upper layer, a broadcast data packet having a sequence number whichis outside a range of the reception window due to the update of thereception window, among the broadcast data packets stored in the buffer.6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the selective combiner reordersbroadcast data packets stored in the buffer in the order of sequencenumber and delivers, to an upper layer, a broadcast data packet having asequence number preceding a reception-failed sequence number, wherein areception-failed sequence number is a sequence number for which thecorresponding broadcast data packet is missing.
 7. A method forcombining, by a user equipment (UE), broadcast data packets from aserving cell and at least one target cell in a mobile communicationsystem including the UE, the serving cell for providing a particularbroadcast service through a primary link set up by the UE, the targetcell for providing the particular broadcast service through a secondarylink set up by the UE, and a radio network controller (RNC) forproviding broadcast data packets for the particular broadcast service tothe serving cell and the target cell, the method comprising the stepsof: receiving a broadcast data packet supporting selective combiningfrom the serving cell and the target cell, respectively; determining ifthe received broadcast data packet has already been received; discardingthe received broadcast data packet, if the received broadcast datapacket has already been received; storing the received broadcast datapacket in a buffer, if the received broadcast data packet has notalready been received and falls within a reception window; reorderingbroadcast data packets stored in the buffer in an order of a sequencenumber; and delivering, to an upper layer, a broadcast data packethaving a sequence number preceding a reception-failed sequence number,among the reordered broadcast data packets, wherein a reception-failedsequence number is a sequence number for which the correspondingbroadcast data packet is missing; wherein the sequence number is anindicator for distinguishing the broadcast data packet, and a samesequence number is assigned to a same broadcast data packet in theserving cell and the target cell, wherein the reception window isdetermined based on a foremost sequence number among sequence numbers ofthe broadcast data packets received, and a predetermined window sizethat is determined based on a maximum error range for reception pointsof broadcast data packets having a same sequence number, transmittedfrom different cells.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the receivedbroadcast data packet is regarded as a previously received broadcastdata packet, if a broadcast data packet having the same sequence numberas the sequence number of the received broadcast data packet has beenstored in the buffer.
 9. An apparatus for combining, by a user equipment(UE), broadcast data packets from a serving cell and at least one targetcell in a mobile communication system including the UE, the serving cellfor providing a particular broadcast service through a primary link setup by the UE, the target cell for providing the particular broadcastservice through a secondary link set up by the UE, and a radio networkcontroller (RNC) for providing broadcast data packets for the particularbroadcast service to the serving cell and the target cell, the apparatuscomprising: a duplication checker for determining if a broadcast datapacket supporting selective combining received respectively from theserving cell and the target cell has already been received, discardingthe received broadcast data packet if the received broadcast data packethas already been received, and storing the received broadcast datapacket, if the received broadcast data packet has not already beenreceived and falls within a reception window; and a reordering bufferfor reordering the broadcast data packets in an order of sequencenumbers, and delivering, to an upper layer, a broadcast data packethaving a sequence number preceding a reception-failed sequence number,among the reordered broadcast data packets, wherein a reception-failedsequence number is a sequence number for which the correspondingbroadcast data packet is missing; wherein the sequence number is anindicator for distinguishing the broadcast data packet, and a samesequence number is assigned to a same broadcast data packet in theserving cell and the target cell, wherein the reception window isdetermined based on a foremost sequence number among sequence numbers ofthe broadcast data packets received, and a predetermined window sizethat is determined based on a maximum error range for reception pointsof broadcast data packets having a same sequence number, transmittedfrom different cells.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein theduplication checker regards the received broadcast data packet as apreviously received broadcast data packet if a broadcast data packethaving a same sequence number as the sequence number of the receivedbroadcast data packet has been stored in the reordering buffer.
 11. Amethod for combining broadcast data packets from a plurality of cells ina user equipment (UE), the method comprising the steps of: allocating areception window based on a sequence number of a broadcast data packetsupporting selective combining first received respectively from theplurality of cells, and a predetermined window size; determining if asequence number of a next broadcast data packet received from theplurality of cells falls within the reception window; determining if abroadcast data packet having a same sequence number as the sequencenumber of the next broadcast data has already been stored in a buffer,if the sequence number falls within the reception window; discarding thereceived next broadcast data packet, if the broadcast data packet havingthe same sequence number as the sequence number of the next broadcastdata has already been stored in the buffer; storing the received nextbroadcast data packet in the buffer, if the broadcast data packet havingthe same sequence number as the sequence number of the next broadcastdata has not been stored in the buffer; storing the next receivedbroadcast data packet in the buffer, if the sequence number does notfall within the reception window; updating the reception window based onthe sequence number and the predetermined window size; and delivering,to an upper layer, a broadcast data packet having a sequence number thatis outside a range of the updated reception window, among the broadcastdata packets stored in the buffer, wherein the predetermined window sizeis determined based on a maximum error range for reception points ofbroadcast data packets having the same sequence number, transmitted fromdifferent cells.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising thesteps of: reordering broadcast data packets stored in the buffer in anorder of sequence numbers; and delivering, to the upper layer, abroadcast data packet having a sequence number preceding areception-failed sequence number, wherein a reception-failed sequencenumber is a sequence number for which the corresponding broadcast datapacket is missing.